An Imperfect Love Story - Book 8

Redding Love

LENA POV

"It was kind of different to see Ryan, right?" I say to Stef as she sips her water and slides into bed beside me. We had just made pretty heavy love for hours as she lights a smoke, and I open my Buddhist book while rain starts to hit the window outside. Something I loved.

"Yeah, hits you different on video. In photos you can't see the person's mannerisms or hear their voice."

"I really didn't remember even meeting him then. Were we that stoned?" I laugh as she turns to look at me smirking as we are both full blown naked still, and she plays with my fingers.

"We were somewhat stoned and in our own world, baby. Like newlyweds as Gary put it. Plus, as Julius told us, Ryan was only there for a few hours then had to go back. Most of which at that time we were in the bedroom doing naughty things." She winks and teases as I blush while she puffs her smoke looking towards the rain hitting the window again. "But, it was nice to see him. I miss that guy."

"Me too. You think Julius is okay? I mean it had to have felt...I don't know, awful. Phillip was right there, and maybe Julius forgot that day."

"I don't know if you ever get over something like that fully. Ya know? I mean he saw him, you all saw him....that had to have been hard. I didn't see the tail end. But, I don't know, love. You know that Julius processes things differently so to say. And I know he loves Philip." She says as I can hear the seriousness in her voice, and I put my book down on the nightstand.

"Baby, I know he was your close friend, and you loved him just like you loved Frank Jr. That's not easy that you lost two brothers with the same disease. That's not easy at all." I gently tuck her hair behind her ear as she turns to look at me before she puts her smoke in the ashtray.

She turns back to face me and softly smiles at me as she grabs my hand now rubbing my ring finger yet again. "I'm okay, baby."

"It's okay if you aren't, and it's okay to be sad. And if you want to talk about it we can. I miss him too."

"He was a sweet guy. Philip is sweet too, so Julius knows how to pick em." She smiles again now grabbing one of my curls and playing with it. "But those videos, huh? What did you think of 'em?"

"Um, I don't know. It was fun to see us. We were so innocent in some respects and alive and free. Not a care in the world, not as much responsibilities. I mean we were wives, but I don't know, it was nice to see you so carefree," I say as I look into her warm, intense gaze as she smiles softly.

"Yeah, I was a little less uptight then, huh?" She jokes as I shake my head at her and gently stroke her face again.

"Stop that. Life wasn't always easy, and that trip to Gary and Marty's for the concert was magical for you and I then. A dream that neither of us wanted to end, baby. We were in a dream world so to speak. And um..."

"And um?" I hear her ask as I glance back into her intense hazel eyes as she waits for me to answer.

"Nothing," I say getting up from the bed and grabbing her plaid shirt to put on as I stand by the giant window now looking outside as the rain grows heavier.

Only a few short moments later I feel her wrap her arms around me as all her closeness does is make me feel even more connected to her. I melt into her easily as she has always had a way of making me feel calmer...safer, somehow.

"What's the matter, baby? Mm? Please talk to me. Did I say something wrong?" She whispers in my neck as I feel her tighten her hold, and I shake my head.

"No, of course not."

"Ok, then what? Don't leave me in the dark, sweets. We've been talking a great deal and have opened up to each other. Tell me what's on your mind." Her voice is soothing and calm as I continue to watch the rain hit the window while my brain is still trying to process all those videos and photos to the point that I don't know how to feel about them.